DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING
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Examination, Assessment & Certification (EAC Branch) |
IS/ISO Clause No. 7.1 |
| Ref: QMS: EACQP - 07 - 1 |
Subject: Qualifying Sea Service requirements for Engineering Officers to obtain Certificate of Competency |
File No. |
| Authorized by: CS / DG |
Circular No: STCW 2010 Training Circular No. 14 of 2012 |
Date: 06.03.2012 |
1. As the shipping Industry and the seafarers are well aware, the 2010 Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention have entered into force on 1st January 2012, through the Tacit Amendment Procedure as laid down in the STCW Convention.
2. The following instructions and tables give a clear guideline on the sea time requirements and need to be followed by aspiring candidates for obtaining certificates of competency
- For certification of Officers in Charge of an Engineering Watch in a manned engine room or Designated Duty Engineers in a periodically Unmanned Engine Room (Marine Engineer Officer Class IV). Every candidate shall have performed engine room watch keeping duties as appropriate for motor/ steam for a period of not less than six months in the engine department of a sea going ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more under the supervision of the Chief Engineer Officer or a qualified Engineer Officer.
- For certification of Second Engineer Officer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000 kW propulsion power or more (Marine Engineer Officer Class II). Every candidate shall have not less than 12 months approved sea-going service as appropriate for motor/ steam in the engine department of sea going ship as a qualified Engineer Officer on ships of 750 kW or more.
- For certification of Chief Engineer Officer on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000 kW propulsion power or more (Marine Engineer Officer Class I).
- Every candidate shall have approved sea-going service as appropriate for motor/ steam in the engine department of sea going ship as Engineer Officer in charge of an Engineering watch on ships of 750 kW or more for a period of not less than 36 months which shall include not less than 12 months as holder of certificate of competency as Marine Engineer Officer Class II on ships powered by main propulsion machinery of 3000 kW propulsion power or more.
- However, in such cases the period of 36 months shall be reduced to 30 months, i.e. if 12 months of such sea-going service as appropriate for motor/ steam in the engine department of sea going ship has been served as Second Engineer Officer on a sea-going ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW propulsion power or more, or pro rata.
2.1 Every candidate complying with the qualified sea service as specified in para 2.3 will be issued Certificate of Competency for a period of five years from the date of passing examination.
2.1.1 However, candidates who have completed sea service as per the existing i.e. the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers), Rules 1998 qualifying sea service requirements, will be issued the Certificate of Competency which will be restricted up to 31.12.2016. Such candidates shall be required to further validate their certificate by undergoing the eleven days Refresher & Upgradation Course after completing the qualifying sea service as required by these amendments.
3. Transitional Provisions
It may be noted that candidates are required to have qualified sea service for obtaining MEO Class I Certificate of Competency as per the requirements of STCW 2010 as specified in para 2.3 w.e.f. 01.01.2015 in order to be eligible to appear for MEO Class I Certificate of Competency as per these amendments.
Qualifying Sea Service requirements for issue of Certificate of Competency are detailed below:
| Table for candidates following a route from MEO Class IV level onwards as per these amendments onwards |
| Marine Engineer Officer Class IV Candidates |
| Regulation / Category |
Column A (Qualifying Sea Service) |
Column B (Propelling time) |
| STCW 2010 Regulation III/ 1-Officer in charge of Engineering watch |
Total minimum approved Sea service after MEO Class IV Part A |
Minimum watchkeeping on appropriate Main Propulsion Machinery or UMS duties (on ships 750 kW or more) |
| Motor (M) |
6 months |
4 months |
| Steam (S) |
6 months |
4 months |
| Combined Steam & Motor |
8 months (4 months Motor + 4 months Steam) |
6 months (3 months Motor + 3 months Steam) |
| Endorsement (Steam or Motor) |
3 months |
2 months |
| Marine Engineer Officer Class II Candidates |
| Regulation / Category |
Column A (Qualifying Sea Service) |
Column B (Propelling time) |
| STW 2010 Regulation III/2 2nd Engineer 3000 kW or more |
Total minimum approved Sea service after obtaining Class IV Part B (III/1) |
Min watchkeeping on Main Propulsion Machinery or UMS duties (on ships 750 kW or more) |
| Motor (M) |
12 months |
8 months |
| Steam (S) |
12 months |
8 months |
| Combined (Steam & Motor) |
16 months (8 months Motor + 8 months Steam) |
12 months (6 months Motor + 6 months Steam) |
| Endorsement (Steam or Motor) |
6 months |
4 months |
| Marine Engineer Officer Class I Candidates |
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| Regulation / Category |
Column A (Qualifying Sea Service) |
Column B (Propelling time) |
| STCW 2010 Regulation III/2 Chief Engineer 3000 kW or more |
Total minimum approved Sea service after obtaining MEO Certificate of Competency Class II (III/2) |
Min watch keeping on Main propulsion machinery while qualified to serve as 2nd Engineer (holding III/2 cert. on Ships of power 3000 kW or more) |
| Motor (M) |
24 months/ 18 months if served as Second Engineer Officer on ships of 3000 kW propulsion power or more for a period of 12 months or pro rata. |
16 months/ 12 months if served as Second Engineer Officer on ships of 3000 kW propulsion power or more |
| Steam (S) |
24 months/ 18 months if served as Second Engineer Officer on ships of 3000 kW propulsion power or more for a period of 12 months or pro rata |
16 months/ 12 months if served as Second Engineer Officer on ships of 3000 kW propulsion power or more |
| Combined (Steam & Motor) |
32 months (16m Motor + 16m Steam) |
24 months (12m Motor + 12m Steam) |
| Endorsement (Steam or Motor) |
9 months |
6 months |
| Steam or Motor Endorsement to a COC applies to candidates who are in possession of COC for the grade in Motor or Steam respectively. |
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5. Sea time for candidates appearing for Steam Certificate of Competency or for conversion from Motor to Steam and Motor and Steam (Combined) is as mentioned above.
6. A candidate holding a Class I Certificate of Competency, Steam or Motor, who has completed approved sea service as an assistant to watchkeeper on a Motor or Steamship respectively can appear for an endorsement of either type, by examination, to be entitled to hold an endorsement to his Class I Certificate of Competency. This is however, not applicable for any lower Class of Certificate of Competency.
7. This issues with the approval of the Director General of Shipping and ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India, under the power conferred in the Chapter IX Rule 47 of Merchant Shipping (Standards of Certification & watch - keeping for Seafarers) Rules, 1998.
Sd/-
[D. Mehrotra]
Dy. Chief Surveyor